funzone36

The Nature of Capitalism

Capitalism depends on people being basically selfish. The whole point is that, if you work hard, you can get rich, ride to the top, and do whatever (more or less) you want.

As an aside, I'd like to point out that I find this entirely ironic. The point of life is to procreate, because those organisms who's entire being is given up to that drive to procreate are the one's who's genes have the most chance of surviving. However, birth rates in the most industrialized nations is far lower than those in third-world countries, and it isn't because we can't procreate -- it is because it we don't really want to. For some reason, when we get fat and wealthy, we lose the desire to spawn. I'm guessing it is nature's way of keeping humans hungry. The true advances come from the dissatisfied, not from the comfortable.

In any case, we've evolved a system whereby, theoretically, the hardest working reap the most rewards. Only, it doesn't quite work out that way, as you'll see.

Like commu-capitalism, capitalism has its downsides. In a communism, you get points only if you contribute. However, with capitalism, people can, and do, make significant amounts money without making any significant contribution to society whatsoever. In fact, a large portion of the American economy is devoted to doing just this -- making money off of the concept of money alone. "Interest" is a good example of this. Once an entity has a certain amount of money, it can survive off the interest without providing any constructive contribution to society. I phrase it this way, because at that point it doesn't matter whether the entity exists or not. It is capable of becoming a pure consumer, rather than a producer. Banks, therefore, are leeches on the process of capitalism. They don't truely contribute to the advancement of society.

Before I let you get too far into making any assumptions about my beliefs and values, I want to make it clear: I actually like banking. I think they're absolutely necessary, for the same reasons why a true communism would never work. I'd like to have a job working on banking software. Banking is the one, truely universal industry, where your skills are always in demand. For that matter, I'd love to have the opportunity to become a leech on society. I wouldn't actually exercise the ability, but it would be nice to not have to worry about how I'm going to fund my retirement. I'm also a dedicated capitalist. However, I do believe that there is no such thing as a purely good concept, and that any idea can be abused.

So, capitalism encourages non-contributing, support structure industry. Many organizations make fortunes simply by shifting money back and forth, from one place to another. While this is all very integral to our economy, it only exists as a side effect -- it doesn't actually produce anything.

Capitalism allows people to starve. However, unlike communism, capitalism also allows people to better themselves and their situation. Capitalism also allows people to ensure a better future for their offspring, should they have any, and to contribute surplus resources to organizations that they believe in. To quote the old hack, it may not be a perfect system, but it is the best one we have.






SOURCE: http://www.germane-software.com/~ser/Files.../Communism.html

MY COMMENT:

Both has their flaws. What we need is a blend between the two.

ddragon1234

i don't think you have a dark view on humans. i believe it too. but i also believe that there are people in this world who WOULD sacrifice for their neighbor- (in sight of a common goal)
but i disagree- i don't think we need a blend between the two. i think that capitalism works, and it works well. maybe it's because i grew up in a middle-class family, but that's the way i think...

avisitor

Capitalism is an economic system. Not a system of gov't. USA is a republic with a democratic society. China's gov't is communist. Yet, the economic system is more capitalistic. :11500:

Life is not simply balck and white. Many shades of grey. And, yes, it would be better to take the best of each and to live in a better world. :11100: :10500:

oliveryty

life is not a black-or-white
-isms are shits